To some August 31st is just a day... it could be your birthday or an anniversary but to me it is the day when I had to learn to live life differently. I had to fight the fight no one wants to fight. I will never forget sitting in the doctors office with my mom when he told me he believed I had lymphoma. Three months of not knowing and getting test after test done to find out it may be cancer. Seeing my dad’s face in the waiting room when he asked if everything was okay and all I could do was shake my head no. Than one of the hardest parts came, knowing my husband who was so concerned about me for the last three months did not know anything and he was at work. I had to tell him over the phone. That was so hard to do. Telling all your loved ones over the phone that you most likely have cancer SUCKS. But throughout the last year I learned about a strength in me that I did not know I had. I learned the true love of family and friends and who really care no matter the distance or time spent apart. 

There were days I was terrified and there are still days I am terrified. I am afraid cancer will come back. I am afraid that in the future I won’t be as strong as I need to be should it come back. But one thing I do know is I will always have the support from my family and friends.

Someday I will be able to tell my child(children) about the strength their mother had to fight for her life so they could have a life. It will be a fight that will help me push my child to be the best they can be and to always try their hardest. My past will help me be a better person in the future. I will try not to take things for granted and truly treasure the good times.

Thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support. You all have no idea how much your support pushed me to fight. Thank you to my doctors and nurses at Sloan Kettering for giving me the best care I could have asked for. You helped me beat cancer and I will forever be grateful for that. 

Now onto the next year of my life!